Work support



'Dem 10, 1929. 1:- 4M- FURBER 1,738,570

WORK SUPPORT Original Filed FebQZ. 1923 Fig. 'i

Patented Dec. 10, 1929 FREDERICK M. FURBER, O F REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY 'WORK SUPPORT Original applicatioirled February 2, 1923, Serial No. 616,602. Divided and this application filed March 5, 1625*. Serial No. 13,149.

This invention relates to Work-supports, and more especially to those on which boots or shoes are placed, in some cases right side up and in others 4bottom up. The present application is tiled as a division of my copending application Serial No. 616.602. filed February 2, 1923, and discloses the invention in a form designed for use with toe-.softening apparatus. Still, the invention is not limited to the use above speciied. In some cases it is desirable to place the shoes right side up on the racks or supports, and in others to place them bottom up or in inverted position, but a rack or support designed to maintain them in one position is not usually suitable also to maintain them in the other.

In view of the conditions above described an object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe-support adapted to maintain one or more boots or shoes right side up or inverted, as the case may be, and to be readily converted to one use or the other so that it may be used for both alternatively.

A feature of the invention consistsin a combination comprising two shoe-supporting lmembers one of which is arranged to engage the forepart and the other to engage the heelpart of a boot or shoe, the latter one of said members having a surface to provide a plat.

form for the heel or heel-seat of a right-sideup sh'oe andhaving a notch to receive the top and counter portion of an inverted shoe and to maintain the shoe in inverted position, and being adjustable to place the platform surface andthe notch alternatively in operative position. For most purposes the invention would preferably be embodied in a form that Would provide for a series of shoes, asv shown by the accompanying drawing.

Other features of the invention are hereinafter described and claimed and are shown by the drawing.

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of a shoes support or rack embodying the invention in a form designed for use with a toe-softening apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side or end elevation, partly in secion, of the organization shown in Fig. 1; an

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion ofthe shoe-supporting means supporting a boot in inverted position.V f

The illustrated toe-softening apparatus is o f the'type shown in the aforesaid application Serial No. 616,602.

The shoe-supporting means shown by the drawing comprises a `for-epart member 10, a heelpart member 12, and connections hereinafter described. If desired, each of the members 10 and 12 may be made of a board, since Wood is an economical' material and is suitable for the purposes in view.v These members are designed, according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, to provide for a series of four boots or shoes arranged side by side, but the number providedv for may be varied to suit requirements.

The longitudinal edge 14 of the forepart member 10 may be straight, and the opposite edge may be formed with a seres of scallops or depressions 16, and these edges may be used alternatively, if desired, by placing one or the other uppermost. AAny suitable means may be provided for fastening the member 10 to uprights or other supporting structure, but since lthe drawing shows the shoe-supporting means in a form designed for use with toe-softening apparatus, the member 10 is formed with vertical slots 18, 18 to receive bolts 20. These bolts are screwed into an element 22 of the softening apparatus and may be set up tightly to' clamp'the member 10 against the front of said apparatus at various heights Within the range of the slots 18. These slots and bolts also provide for 'inverting the member 10.

The longitudinal edge or surface 24 of the heelpart member 12 may be straight if it is desired to use it as av supporting platform for the heels or heel-seats of the shoes, but the two major surfaces 26 of said member are fiat and either of them may be used instead of the edge 24 as a supporting platform. In Fig. 1 the straight edge 14 of the forepart member 10 and the'straight edge 24of the heelpart member 12 are uppermost to provide supporting platforms for the ball portion and the heel portion respectively of a right-side-up shoe.

In Fig. 2'tl1e heelpart member 12 is shown to use one of the surfaces 26 to support the by solid lines in one operative position and by broken lines in anotheroperative posi tion. Referring to the position representedv 28 While the forepart of the boot rests upon the surface or edge 14 of the member 10.

When the member 12 is adjusted to the po.

sition represented by broken lines in Fig. 2 the straight edge or surface 24 thereof provides a platform for the heel end of the boot 0r shoe. In some cases the user may prefer boot or shoe right side up, While in other cases he might prefer to subtsitute the edge 24 for that purpose.

The opposite edge of the heelpart member 12 is formed with a .series of lV-shaped notches 30 each adapted to receive the top of an inverted boot, as shown by F ig. 3, and' to embrace the counter portion. The tapering'formation of these notches compensates for all widths so that each boot or shoe that is placed in a notch will settle downwardly by reason of its weight until its counter portion is firmly heldagainst tipping. As shown by Fig. 3, the scalloped edge of the forepartv member 1() is uppermost to cooperate with th'e notches of theheelpart member 12 in supporting the boot, the scalloped formation conforming in a substantial degree to the convexity of the portion of the shoe engaged thereby. Still, the straight edge 14 of the forepart member 10 may be used in conjunction with the notches 30 Without sacrificing the effect of the notches in maintaining the boots or shoes in inverted position.

The connections hereinbefore mentioned comprise metal bars 32, 32, clamping bolts or trunnions 34 and clamping screws 36 the heads of which are preferably formed as `knobs to be turned by hand. The bolts 34 are inserted through holes in the bars 32 and are screwed in'to metal fittings 38 fastened to the ends of the forepart member 10. When A the bolts are tight they clamp the bars 32 against the fittings 38 and hold them rigidly. Vertical adjustments of the member 12 are afforded by angular adjustments of the bars 32 about the bolts 34. The hand-screws 36 extend through slots 40 in the bars 32 and are screwed into the `ends of the heelpart member 12. The slots 40 provide for adjusting the member 12 towardand from the member 10, and the Shanks of the screws 36 constitute trunnions about which the member 12 may be turned to the various positions hereinbefore mentioned. When the screws 36 are tight they clamp the member 12 against the bars 32 to prevent the member 12 from turning accidentally.

When the described shoe-supporting means is to be used with a treating apparatus notches 30 in the'member 12 will be spaced to register with the chambers into which the toes of the shoes are to be inserted for treatment. In the illustrated treating apparatus the treating chambers 42 are formed in the heated element 22 and are open in front to receive the toes of the shoes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Shoe-supporting means comprising a forepart member formed and arranged to support the forepart of a shoe, a heelpart member having a platform surface' to support the heelpart ofa right-side-up shoe and having a notch to receive theytop of an inverted boot and to embrace-and support the heelpart thereof, and means arranged to maintain said members in cooperative relation to each other, said means having provision for permitting adjustments of said heelpart memberto place said platform surface and said notch alternatively in operative position rel'ative to said forepart member.

forepart mem r formed and arranged to sup-port the forepart of a shoe, a heelpart memberhavino' a platform surface to support the heelpart of a right-side-up shoe and havtain said members in cooperativev relation to leach other', said means and said heelpart member having a pivotal connection permit-- ting adjustments of said heelpart member about an axis to place said platform surfacev and said notch alternatively in operative position relative to said' forepart member.

3. Shoe-supporting means comprising a forepart member formed .and arranged to support the forepart of a shoe, a heelpart member having a platform surface to support the heelpart of a right-side-up shoe,- and having a notch to receive and embrace the counter portion of an inverted shoe, and means arranged to maintain said members in cooperative relation to each other, said means having provision for permitting adjustments of said heelpart member to place said platform surface and said no-tch alternatively in operative position relative to said forepart member, and said members being otherwise relatively adjustable.

4. Shoe-sup orting means comprising a forepart mem er formed and arranged to support the foreparts of a series of shoes side by side,a heelpart member havinfr a platform surface to sup-port the heelparts df right-sideup shoes and having a series of notches to receive and embrace the counter portions of inverted shoes, and means arranged to maintain said members in cooperative relation to each other, said means having provision for 90 2. Shoe-suppgrting .means comp-rising ar embrace the counter portion of an invertedA shoe` and means arranged to maintain said members in cooperative relationto each other, said means having provisions for permitting vertical relative adjustments of said members and other adjustments of said heelpart member to pla-'ce said surface andsaid notch alternatively in operative position relative to said forepart member.

6. Shoe-supporting means comprising a member having dissimilar formations conforming approximately to different parts of a shoe, and means arranged to maintain said member in various operativepositions, said means permitting adjustments of said member to place said formations uppermost alternatively, one of said formations having a configuration to support a shoe in one position' and another having a configuration to maintain a shoe in another position.

7 .Shoesupporting means comprising' a board having a surface to provide a platform for the bottom of a shoe standing rlght side up and having a notch to receive and embrace an inverted shoe,l and means arranged to maintain said board in various operative positions, said means permitting adjustments of said board to place said surface and said notch alternatively in shoe-supporting posi tion. l

8. Shoe-supporting means provided wlth dissimilar shoe-engaging' formations conforming respectively to dissimilar external configurationsof a shoe, and means forlmaintaining said shoe supporting means y1n various positions so that said formations may be alternatively presented in work-receiving positions.

9. Shoe-supporting means comprising two cooperative shoe-supporting members, one tosup-port the forepart and the other to support the heelpart, and'means arranged Vto maintain said members in various cooperative relations, each of said members having dissimilar formations conforming approximately to different parts of a shoe and said means permitting adjustments of vsaid members to place said formations alternatively in operative position.

10. Shoe-supporting' means comprising two cooperative shoe-supporting members, one to support the forepart and the other to support 'the heelpart, each of said members having dissimilar formations conformingapproximately to different parts of a shoe. and means arranged to maintain said members spaced apart in various cooperative relations to each other, said means permitting adjustments of said members to place said formations alternatively in operative posi-tion, and permitting relative adj ust-ments of said members toward and from each other to suit shoes of different lengths.

11. Slice-supporting means comprising a member to sup-port the forepart of a. shoe., a member to support the heelpart, and means arranged to support said heelpart-supporting member, said means including horizontal trunnions on which said heelpart-supporting member may turn and said member having dissimilar shoe-engaging forma-tions arranged to be placed in operative position alternatively in consequence of turning movement on said trunnions.

12. Shoe-supporting means comp-rising two cooperative shoe-supporting members, one to support the forepart and the other to support the heelpart of a shoe, one of` said members having horizontal trunnions by which it is supported and on which it may turn to place one side or another uppermost and having dissimilar f shoe-engaging formations arranged to be placed alternatively in operative position in consequence of turning on said trunnions. y

13. Shoe-supporting means comprising a pair of arms spaced apart and arranged to be angularly adjustable about a. horizontal axis, a member arranged between said arms to support one end of a shoe, horizontal trunnions connecting said arms with said member to provide for turning the latter, said member having dissimilar shoe-engaging formations arranged to be placed alternatively in operative position in consequence of such turning, and means arranged to support the other end of the shoe.

invertible members arranged to engage respectively the forepart and heelpart of a shoe, and means arranged to maintain said members alternatively in two relatively inverted positions, one side of one of said members being shaped to support a shoe right side up and one side of Ione kof them being shaped to maintain a shoe in inverted position.

15. Shoe-supporting meanscomprising two relatively adjustable members arranged to engage respectively the forepart 'and heelpart of a shoe, said heelpart-engaging member being invertible and having two dissimilar formations arranged to be placed uppermost alternatively, one to provide a platform for a shoe standing right side up andthe other to receive and embrace the counter portion of an inverted shoe, and means arranged to maintain said members in various cooperative relationsand permitting inversion of said heelpart-engaging member.

16. Shoe-supporting means comprisingr two bars spaced apart, two shoe-engaging mem- 14. Shoe-supporting means comprising two bers spaced apart and each extending from one of said bars to the other, and trunnions connecting each of said bars with both of said members so that the latter may turn individually, one of said members having a surface for supporting the heelpart of a shoe standing right side up and having a notch formation to receive and embracethe counter portion of an inverted shoe, andthe other one of said members having surfaces to engage and support the forepartof a shoe.

17. Shoe-supporting means 'comprising two bars spaced apart, two shoe-engaging members spaced apart and each extending from one of said bars lto the other, 'and trun- :nions connecting each of said bars with both .of said members so that the latter may turn individually, said bars having slots for-the trunnions of one of said members .to provide 1 for relative adjustment of said members toward and from each other, vand 'means for tightening said bars and members relatively one to another, one of said-members being arranged to support the forepart of a shoe and the other having a surface to support the heelpart of a shoe standing right side up and a notch to receive and embrace the counter portionof an inverted shoe, said surface and said notch being arranged to be placed uppermost 'alternatively by turningsaid heelpart supporting member on its trunnions.

18.y In va shoe-treating apparat-us having means formingl a treating station and having an opening therein to receive the toe of a member arranged to support the heel end of a shoe Whose toe is inserted in said opena member arranged to support the heel end of a shoe whose toe is inserted in said opening,said member having a surface on one side to provide a platform for the'l1eelseat of a ri ht-side-up shoe and having a notch in anot ier side to receive thetop of an inverted shoe and to maintain the latter in inverted position, and means by ,which said member is supported so that it may be turned to place said surface and said notch alternatively in cooperative relation to said opening.

2G. In a shoe-treating apparatus having a member arranged to support the heel ends of shoes whose toes are inserted in said openings, said member having a surface to provide a platform for` the heel-seats of rightside-up shoes whose toes are inserted in said ,70

openings and having a series `of notches to receive the tops of inverted shoes and to maintain the latter in inverted position, and means by which said member is supported so that it may be adjusted to place said surface and said notches alternatively in cooperative relation to said openings. Y,

21. In a shoe-treating apparatus having a structure forming a treating chamber and having an opening therein to receive the toe of a shoe, a shoe-supporting 4member fastened to said structure and arranged in front of said opening and adjacent thereto to sup-y port the forepart ofa shoe whose toe is in` serted in said opening, and adjustable means g5 supported by said member to support the heel part of the shoe, said means havinga platform portion for the heel-seat of a right-sideup shoe and having a notch to-receive the top of an inverted shoe and to maintain the In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. l

FREDERICK M. FURBER."

a a shoe, a work-supporting means comprising y means forming a series of treating stations each having an openingvto receive the toe of a shoe, a work-supporting means comprising 

